Protector for distributor wires



Patented Jan. 12, 1926'.

vUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PROTECTOR FOR DISTRIBUTOR WIRES.

Application mea septemer 23, 1924. serial No. 739,329.

` To all 'whom t may concern:

siding at St. Petersburg,

Be it known that I, JOHN PRESTON VAUGHN, a citizen of the United States, re-

in the county of Pinellas, State f Florida, have invented certain'new and useful Improvements in Protectors for Distributor Wires; and I do hereby .declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionv of the invention, such' as will enable others skilled in the art to which Vit appertains to make and use the Same. v

- This invention relates to new and useful improvements, in protecting devices, and particularly to devices for protecting the lgnition circuits of automobile engines against shortcircuiting.

yThe princi al object of the invention is to rovide a evice which will cover the distri utor of an internal combustion engine ignition .circuit so as to. prevent entrance of water, oil, or other means which would Short circuit the ignition circuit.

Another object is to provide a device of- -this characterwhich is readily adjustable to different types and. sizes of` distributors, and which is constructed to dellect water, which `Vwould -strike theupper end of the device,

to a safe distance away from the distributor.

Another object is to providey a coverof this character which permits free circulation of air therebeneath, by means of eX- ternal bosses described hereinafter, whereby to prevent heating and condensation within the cover.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.

AIn the drawing: -f Figure is an elevation of the device shown `as applied to a distributor.

Figure 2 1s an enlar ed vertical longitudinal sectional view through the device, the wires being in elevation. e y

Referring particularly. to the accompanying drawing,`10 represents a portion of the distributor of` an automobile engine, and 1l the heavily insulated conductor wires leading to the various Spark. plugs, and in connection with which the present invention is particularly adapted for use.

The protector comprises an elongated molded rubber sheath 12, onev end of which is open, as indicated at 13, to permit the sheath being slipped onto the end of the distributor l0. The other end of the sheath is formed with a dome-shaped portion 14, and Where this portion joins the'body of the sheath, there is formed a rib or flange 15, for the purpose of directing water or oil, which might falonto the dome 14, o utwardly away from the sheath. Formed in the center of the crown of the dome 1i is an opening 16, and in the sides of the dome, Surrounding this central opening, and in proper spaced relation thereto, and to each other are the additional openings 17. Formed on the outer convex face of the dome around each opening, and rojecting from the dome, is a nipple 18, and) dis osed through-each of these ni ples is a con uctor wire l1, said conductorj eing secured to its ap ropriate bindingiscrew within the distri utor. The outer ends of the wires connect with the s ark plugs of the engine, and the source o? current, respectively, not shown, but as will be readily understood.

Formed in diametrically op osite parts of the lower endof the skirt o the body is a longitudinally extending boss resulting in the -interiorly arranged elongated sockets thereabove, each of said sockets being ar-i ranged to receive and loosely engage the retaining clip of the distributor head.

It will. be noted that the lower end of the skirt of the body does not tightly fit the distribut-or cap, nor do the bosses tightly fit the clip holding on the distributor head, with the result that there is provided suicient space between the cover and distributor csp to permit passage of air., This passage o air eneath the cover revents heating within the cover and su sequent condensation, whereby collection of moisture on thedwires and terminals is effectively obviate The provision of th recesses or bosses serve vto prevent stretching of the` rubber skirt when applying or removing the cover, whereby to prolong the life of the cover.

From the foregoing it will readily be seen that I have provided a cover for an ignition distributor which prevents entrance ofexternal moisture to the wires and terminals, and also provides for breathing of the distributor, whereby to preventvcondensation and accumulation of moisture beneath the cover.

As clearly 'seen in the sectional view, Fig. 2, the ni ples are of-such Size that the conductors t tightly therein, thus effectively greater insulation strength as the insulation excluding moisture of any kind from the interior ofthe protector, and thereby preventing access of such moisture to the metallic connections Within the distributor,

and the short circuiting of the ignition circuit.

The body of the sheath, and the nipples, are molded in one piece, it being the practice to make the skirt of the sheath, or that portion surrounding the open end, of greater length than necessary for ordinary purposes so that it may be cut off if `too long, while being of approximately the right length for a distributor of greater length than the ordinary distributor.

The sheath or protector is treated by any well known process to render it oil resisting, as well as waterproof and moistureproof; and the entire device is v01E substantial thickness throughout, that is, of the same or of the wires leading from the distributor to the plug.

While the drawing illustrates the nipple vcarrying end lof the sheath as dome-shaped,

I vWish it understood that this portion may be oval, square, oblong, or any other outline desired.

Attention is called to the fact that should the wires become loosened from their per manent fastenings within the distributor, the nipples will ei'ectively hold the wires from being detached from such fastenings.

It will be noted that the nipples on top of device are in true alignment with the sockets on distributor cap, so that once the to receive the distributor or timer, and the i other end closed, said closed end being provided with a plurality of outwardly projecting lflexible resilient electric conduit receiving nipples.

2. A protector comprising a' molded live rubber sheath having a skirt on one end and the other end formed with an outwardly,

projecting closing wall, said wall being formed with a plurality vof openings and outwardly projecting flexible resilient nipples surroundinglsaid openings, said skirt having internal recesses forming breathing passages.

3. A protector comprising a molded flexible resilient sheath having a skirt on one end andthe other end formed with a Wall having a plurality of flexible resilient nipples, said skirt having external longitudinal bosses providing internal recesses which latter form breathing passages.

In testimony whereof, I aix my signature.

JOHN PRESTON VAUGHN. 

